Sgt. John Douglass

John Douglass, killed by Indians while on a mission to them from Colonel Anthony Bledsoe.

from: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnsumner/cisco11.htm

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151049869/john-douglass

Sgt John Douglass BIRTH 1741 Virginia, USA DEATH 1776 (aged 34–35) Virginia, USA BURIAL Non-Cemetery Burial, Specifically: Burial place unknown MEMORIAL ID 151049869 · View Source

The Slaying of John Douglas at Little Moccasin Gap

Captain William Russell Wrote to Colonel Preston, on July 7, 1776, saying:

"Dear Colo. - I wrote you yesterday in great haste intendent to send of the express immediately, but he, being disappointed, shall enclose that one in this. I omitted giving the account of two men (no names Given), being killed at Blackmore’s Fort last week, and since I left Fort Chiswell, poor John Douglass got killed in Little Moccasin Gap, on his way to Clinch. Captain Daniel Smith saw his bones yesterday (July 6th) arriving over here.

As evidenced by Captain Russell’s letter, John Douglass was probably killed either on July 5th or 6th. Tradition has it that Douglass was accompanied by his friend William Benham, and that they, as was customary of most people traveling from Abingdon to the Clinch settlements, had stopped in Little Moccasin Gap, and were seated on a large flat rock, eating their lunch when a rifle cracked and Douglass was killed. A bronze plaque has been placed on the rock, probably by the D. A. R., and just east of the spot a wayside has been built, known as the "John Douglas Wayside", perpetuating the memory of this incident.

It has been written that John Douglas was living in the vicinity of Abingdon at the time, but of this I can find no confirmation. He, at the time, was a young unmarried man, and his parents, Col. Edward and Sarah George Douglass were living on a 400 acre tract of land on both sides of Clinch River at the Flour Ford in Scott County, VA, where they had settled in 1776. The Douglass family and that of Captain John Blackmore had intermarried. Sarah Douglass, a sister of the slain John, having married Thomas, a son of Captain John Blackmore, and Elmore Douglas was married to a daughter of Captain John Blackmore to the Nashboro settlement when he rafted down the Clinch to that place in 1779.

John Douglass, the oldest son of Col Edward and Sarah George Douglass, was born about 1740/41. He served as a Sergeant in the state militia under Capt. William Cocke. He was on a mission to warn the settlers in the Clinch River settlements of an impending Indian attack. He was killed by Indians in an ambush. He would have been about 36 years of age when he was killed. There is no indication he was married or had children, but at that age it is possible that he did. The available records indicate his father Col. Edward Douglass settled his estate. John Douglass'burial place is unknown but assumed to be Virginia or that his body was lost.

Family Members Parents Photo Edward Douglass 1713–1795

Photo Sarah Elizabeth George Douglass 1714–1797

Siblings Photo William Alfred Douglass 1742–1814

Elmore Douglass 1753–1819

Photo Elizabeth Douglass Cage 1754–1792

Sarah Douglass Blakemore 1759–1829

James Douglass 1762–1851

Photo Reuben Douglass 1763–1832